Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-01
BEACH AND BEECHER.
TiIton's Counsel Becomes a Believer
in the Defendants Innocence.


NEW YORK, March 27.-Here is some
curious pOst-mortem evidence for Beech.
er, though it is not OF nature to receive
judicial consideration, since IL consists
simply OF the opinion of Tilton's chief
lawyer in the great scandal trial that the
defendant was innocent. That counsel
was William A. Beach, now dead. At
the time OF the Tilton suit he had lately
removed to New York from
Troy, where he had been for years a
leader at the bar; but in the metropo-
lis he was unknown to the public, and
was DESTROYS OF greater fame than his
quiet but lucrative business as an attor-
ney for several railroads gave to him.
He was gifted with singular eloquence,
and he thought that he saw in this
Beecher matter the opportunity of his
life. He knew Tilton personally, and he
believed In the truth of his grievance.
30 he took the case with very small pros
pect OF pecuniary recompense, but
willing to exert himself for glory. Your
correspondent is now able to tell that,
before the six months of trial were
over, Beach was convinced that Beecher
was guiltless Of adultery with Mrs. Til
ton. The authorities for this statement
are eX-Congressman Martin l. Townsend
and Irving Browne. They say that Beach
declared to them his firm belief in Beech
er's goodness. Townsend is a Troy law
yer OF eminence and the utmost probity
Beach started in with a full faith that
Tilton had sound case" he said, "but
the trial was not half over before he
changed his mind. relate this
without assuming what the truth
was, but simply tell how Beach re-
garded It," Irving Brown was formerly
OF Troy, but now lives at Albany. He is
lawyer, literary writer and an old
friend to the deceased Beach. He quotes
Illton's counsel as saying to him: "We
were pack ofhounds trying to run lion
uown. Beechers own testimony con-
vnced me that he was innocent or
sne charge which Tilton had made.
mat IS not saying that Tilton did not be-
neVe mis- own accusation. On the con.
trary, he did; but we were all mistaken"
inquiry among the intimate friends Of
beecher reveals the fact that Beach's oon-
version to this view was known to seve-
raj, ana surmised by Others. The
Two men conceived a strong liking
i ,or each other in court. Beecher
nAeu Beach's personality, and
especially bis Oratory. One
OF the earlier episodes OF the
tlal was bitter excoriation
Sl me preacher by the lawyer, in which
Nv ~ was Hkened TO the guilty pastor in
haWthorne's "Scarlet Letter." 1t was a
,eTvl9 piece Of impassiOned speaking. and
..ooouy listened to 1t with intenser atten-
~, ,ioh r. man M beecher. Turning to Col. Hora-
uo " hlng, he said-to that partisan's
sstohlsnment: "Isn't he a splendid
sSrator." Beach aud Beecher were
Introduced 10 each other few
oays later, by William NJ. Evarts, in the
tSSoufI-room, but not in the presence OF
Me jury. 1t was on day when the ice
sin In the river prevented the ar
t1ai OF witnesses, and an intermission
s was taken. They chatted awhile pleas
ansly, and each told anecdotes OF ex-
PVaiences as public speakers. But
aconuI maj address TO the jury, though
conscientious plea for his clients cause.
1Scked the fire Of the mentioned speeob'
sn ns owo men met many times after war d
ehu exchanged visits.